Physiotherapy Treatment for Scoliosis

At the initial consultation a full specialist physiotherapy assessment is carried out with each patient to establish the most appropriate treatment, according to their spinal flexibility, age and the patient's main concerns. At this initial session a postural programme and an individual exercise programme will be proscribed so that treatment can start immediately.

These specialist physiotherapy techniques work in tandem with the Gensingen brace, normalising the posture through static, dynamic and stabilising control and by utilising gravity to the body’s advantage in gaining and maintaining spinal corrections through over-correction.

The programmes are not general physiotherapy as there is no evidence that general physiotherapy is any benefit to scoliosis patients. These programmes are curve-pattern specific and are individual to the patients’ own postural compensations and flexibility to manage, geared to address the patients main concern– they are bespoke for each patient. Exercises can help to improve the length of the asymmetrical muscles, reduce rotational humps and prominences and prevent curve progression. In small immature curves the exercises have shown to help reduce the deformity (reduce the Cobb angle) without bracing.

In our dedicated scoliosis clinic we have wall bars, poles, bean bags and cushions to help guide the physiotherapy exercises and positions. Exercises are tailor made and therefore equipment is not always necessary for every patient.

In cases of larger thoracic scoliosis, rotational breathing can help de-rotate the scoliotic curve and stretch the muscles between the ribs which can be shortened or overlengthened. Patients will learn to use rotational breathing within their exercises to add to the 3 dimensional improvements and reduce rib cage deformity.

We provide small group physiotherapy sessions for adolescent scoliosis patients every other Saturday, where they have the chance to meet other teenagers with the condition and have their braces adjusted.

Deborah Turnbull

Our Scoliosis Physiotherapy clinic is headed by Schroth Certified Deborah Turnbull BSc. CSP and HCPC registered physiotherapist, certified in both original German Schroth and modern Best Practice Schroth methods.

She has a BSc both in Physiotherapy and Social Sciences and worked for a decade for the NHS at Ealing Hospital and then in the community rehab team in Ealing,Hammersmith and Fulham community services. Her specialisation is Schroth physiotherapy and she was certified in the Katrina Schroth original method in 2007 and in Best Practice Schroth in 2015. Prior to joining LOC, Deborah ran her own company, ScoliosisUK Limited, treating both adults and paediatric patients with spinal deformity for 10 years privately.

Deborah has co-authored with Dr Weiss a number of peer reviewed articles in the area of the conservative treatment for scoliosis and other spinal deformities.